Motorized carbon shifter



ly 2 1939. J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL 2 166,913

MOTORIZED CARBON SHIFTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1934 O O 0 AW 0 O O O O 0 w 0 O O O O O O O O O 0 Au oooooooooov Q /2 g? INVENTOR A gawk RNEY July 25, 1939. J Q SHERMAN AL 2,166,973

MOTORIZED CARBON SHIFTER Filed Oct. 4, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I BY WQMW July 25, 1939- J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL MOTORIZED CARBON SHIFTER Filed Oct. 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTORIZED CARBON SHIFTER Application October 4, 1934, Serial No. 746,798

35 Claims. (01. 197-126) This invention relates to writing machines and in more particular to an attachment for a writing machine for manipulating manifold material having interleaved therebetween short length sheets.

of transfer material. Where a large number of multiple copies are wanted, especially on fan-fold forms which-are bound to each other at the edges, frictional tenacity of the carbon sheets is so great that a retrograde movement thereof cannot be accomplished very easily especially when a rotary platen is used. In order to accomplish the shifting of the transfer sheets with respect to the forms it has been the practice to. reverse the written copies so as to permit the retrograde move- 16 ment of the transfer sheets when these are out of contact with the platen. This has been found objectionable however for the reason that the time required by the operator to reverse the writing machine and'then' withdraw the transfer material is not economical as too much time is lost.

The object of this invention is to automatically reverse the advancement of the multiple forms, then automatically retract the transfer sheets at least one form length, followed by an advance movement of the record material, all in response to a single manipulation of the operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a motorized carbon shifter whereby the labor of shifting the transfer material with respect to the I over and underlying continuous length strips of regard material is accomplished without manual la or.

Another object of this invention is to accelerate the operation of shifting the transfer material with respect to the record material so as to economize upon the operation of writing machines employing continuous length record material having interleaved therebetween short lengths of transfer material.

4 Another object of this invention is to provide a writing machine that is economical to operate, cheap in construction, dependable, requiring a minimum amount of labor on the part of the'operator, but at all times dependable.

45 With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts andcombinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their 50 equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 discloses a front elevation of the attachment for the writing machine. Fig. 2' discloses a side elevation of the attach- 55 ment for the writing machine with practically none of the writing machine shown. Fig. 3 discloses a schematic wiring diagram of the electric circuit used on our device.

The device disclosed herein shows a typewriter platen in association with a manifold record ma- 5 terial carrier mounted upon the typewriter. Both the platen and the record material carrier may be motor driven so that the record material and the transfer material carried by asuitable transfer material carrier are first retracted in unison until 10 the transfer material clears the platen or substantially so, from whence the transfer material and its carrier are further retracted at which time the record material is held stationary, the transfer material being thus retracted until the transfer 5 material is located intermediate the succeeding form of the record material. At this time the motor is reversed and the feeding of the transfer material/and record material through the writing machine is resumed, this feeding operation 20 continuing until the old forms have advanced past the writing position and the new forms advanced into aligned relation to the writing position.

In order to accomplish this it has been found 25 necessary in the preferred embodiment of my disclosure to provide clutches for connecting the motor in driving relation with respect to the platen, providing a clutch for connecting the carbon shifter or carrier in driving relation with 30 respect to the platen and to provide another clutch for connecting the auxiliary pin wheel feed device in driving relation with respect to the carbon carrier.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters 35 of reference throughout the several views.

The present manifolding apparatus is applicable to any standard typewriter, biller or other writing machine and is shown in the drawings supported for to and fro travel upon the reciprocatory platen carriage ii) of the writing machine. Obviously if so desired this manifolding apparatus may be supported independently of the writing machine but operatively connected therewith. This is particularly true when a reciprocatory carriage is not used.

Themanifolding apparatus includes a main frame having parallel side bars |2I2 which are preferably though not necessarily of angle formation, the opposite ends of which are transversely interconnected by rods l4-l4 into a rectangular frame. The frame bars l2-I2 are embossed or perforated if desired at regular spaced intervals as indicated at I6 to provide a series of rack teeth for engagement of a gear pinion i8 carried upon a traveling carrier 2| for'transfer material.

The frame is supported in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position by suitable brackets, not shown. At the top of the frame I2-I2 there is journaled a pin wheel feed roller 20 mounted in suitable brackets 22. This pin wheel roller is provided with a succession of spaced feeding pins 24 engageable in marginally punched holes 28 in superposed record material strips 28. The record material strips are progressively fed from a supply packet not shown at the rear of the frame and thence over the pin wheel roller 20 and in a downwardly direction in alternating relation with interleaved sheets of transfer material 30 at the front of the frame to a platen roll 32 of the writing machine. The platen roll 32 is provided with a series of equally spaced reciprocatory feeding pins 34. The record strips 28 pass in reverse direction about the pin wheel roller 20 and the platen roll 32 These rolls are of the same diameters and the strips travel thereabout in reverse order The innermost strip when passing about the pin wheel roll 20 becomes the outermost strip when passing about the platen roll 32. The increased speed of lineal travel and relative gain of the outermost strips in passing the pin wheel roll 20 due to the greater distance from the axis and consequent greater peripheral travel, is offset or compensated for by the less speed when passing as the innermost strips about the platen roll 32, in unison with which the pin wheel roll rotates. The feeding pins Hand 34 cooperate to maintain accurate registry of printed forms on the respective strips and are preferably though not necessarily mounted for reciprocatory motion in radial direction into and out of engagement with the punched margins of the record strips 28.. The mounting of the feeding pins 24 in the pin wheel roll 20 and the feeding pins 34 in the platen 32 may be identical to the mounting of the feeding pins in the platen roll, disclosed in the Sherman Patent No. 2,000,649.

In order that the platen roll 32 and the pin wheel roll 20 may rotate in unison these are preferably interconnected by a chain 38 passing over the sprocket 38 connected to a suitable clutch 40, which will be more fully described later, and through the gears 42 and 44 to the pin wheel'roller 20 and passing over another sprocket 45 connected through a suitable clutch 48 to the platen 32. Thus it will be seen that as the platen 32 is rotated to advance or retract the record material the pin wheel roller 20 will rotate at the same peripheral rate of speed but in reverse direction due to the gears 42 and 44. Likewise the carbon or transfer sheetcarriage 2| which is utilized in the writing machine. In the instant clutch 40 includes a movable clutch member 50 rotatably mounted on the shaft 52 cooperating with the clutch member 54 fixedly attached to the gear 42. The sprocket 38 is carried by the rotatably mounted clutch 50 so that as the clutch members 50 and 52 are separated the chain 38 is free to rotate without driving the pin wheel roll 20. The clutch 48 includes a movable clutch member 58 splined upon the stub shaft 58 and carries the sprocket 48. member 58 normally engages the clutch member 80 fixedly attached upon the platen shaft '62 driving the platen 32. As members 50 and 58 are moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, the chain 36 and the carbon carriage 2| may be shifted independently of the record material held by the rolls 20 and 32 now stationary. The mechanism for moving the clutch members 50 and 55 to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 will be more fully described later.

As the operation of retracting the transfer material and the record material requires several manipulations on the part of the operator in the machines now on the market, it is desirable to eliminate as many of these operations as possible in order to expedite the-operation of the machines. In the present modification this has been accomplished by providing a mechanism for automatically retracting the record material sufficiently far to permit the further retracting of the transfer material without the record. material binding the transfer material and after the transfer material has been retracted so as to be interleaved between the succeeding form of record material, this and the transfer material are advanced in unison to align the succeeding forms in writing position. The apparatus for accomplishing this will now be described.

A motor I0, suitably carried upon the traveling carriage of the typewriter in a manner not shown, is provided with a pulley -I2 that drives a belt I4 passing over a pulley I8 carried by a movable clutch member 18 that engages a clutch member 80 carried upon the stub shaft 58. The clutch- '84 and the armature 86 of the motor I and the magnet IIO. Immediately upon the magnet IIO being energized the armature II 2 moves to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby causing the movable clutch member I8 to engage clutch member 80. In addition to controlling the clutch member I8 the armature also actuates-member I88 which closes the switch 90 which maintains the This movable clutch circuit closed irrespective of the position of-switch 82 thereafter. The switch 30 is actuated against a spring 83 which opens the switch 90 immediately upon the magnet IIO being demagnetized.

A rod 88 pivotally mounted at 98 to a bell crank lever 88 is also pivotailymounted at I00 toatoggle switch member I02. Thus as the plunger I80 is pushed inwardly the rod 98 actuates toggle member I02 from the full line position .to the dot-dash position causing a spring I04 having one end connectedto the opposite end of I02'topass through dead center and thereby actuating the'other toggle member I06 from full line position to dot-dash position; This reverses the direction of the current flowing through the field winding II I which in thezprevious operation was polarized to cause the motor to advance the transfer material and record material as will appear more fully later.

As the motor I is now energized and clutch member I8 engages clutch member 80, the motor drives the pin wheel roll 20, the platen roll 32 and the transfer material carrier 2| rearwardly to retract the record material and the transfer mateial sufficiently far to permit the transfer material to be freely retracted independently of the record material at which time the clutches 40 and 48 are disengaged by a mechanism now about to be described.

As the transfer material carrier 2| is retracted it engages a toggle switch member II4 actuating this in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3

from the full line position to the dot-dash posi-- tion causing the spring I I6 to pass over dead center thereby actuating the other toggle member I I 8 from thefull line position to the dot-dash position closing the circuit through the magnets I20 and I22, thereby energizing these so as to actuate the armatures I24 and I26 respectively, thereby releasing clutches 40 and 48 to permit the transfer material carriage 2| to continue to retract without further rotation of the pin wheel roll 20 and the platen 32 which prevents the record material from following the transfer material carrier ZI. The record material is now held stationary by the pin Wheel roll 20 and the platen 32.

This transfer material carrier continues its retrograde movement until it engages the toggle switch member I02 rotating it in a clockwise direction causing the spring I04 to pass over dead center thereby actuating toggle I06 from the dotdash position to the full line position which reverses the directionof the current through the field windings III thereby causing the motor to reverse its direction of rotation, since the field winding is now thus reversed.

The toggle member I06 when in the dot-dash position also functions as a switch blade to close the circuit through the contacts I30 and I32 so I that as the toggle member I06 is moved from the dot-dash position to the full line position to reverse the polarity of the field thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the motor 10, the circuit through the electromagnets I20 and I22 is opened thereby permitting the springs 52 and 58 to urge movable clutch members 50 and 56, respectively, into engaging position so that the clutches 40 and 48 are engaged, thereby advancing in unison the transfer material and the record material until the succeeding form having interleaved therebetween the transfer material, is advanced into writing position, when the transfer material is advanced into writing position, and

when the circuit is opened by a switching mechanism provided therefor.

As the transfer material carriage advances from the uppermost position disclosed in Fig. 2 downwardly the carrier engages member I33 which momentarily opens a switch I34 thereby deenergizing the electromagnet IIO, the armature 86 and the field winding III. The switch 82 in the pilot circuit has previously been opened. When member I02 was moved from the dot-dash position to the full line position disclosedu'n" Fig. 3 during the reversing operation of the motor, member 96 was actuated toward the left as viewed in Fig. 3 and thereby positively ejecting the plunger I80 to the out position through the bell crank lever 88, which is connected to the plunger I80 by a slot and pin connection as at 92, and thereby opening the switch 02. The typeuniting machine is now ready for use with the from the up position to the down position as disclosed in Fig. 3.

The toggle switches including toggle members I02, I06, H4 and H8, are adjustably mounted upon the frame I2 so that as forms of different length are used on the machine the manifolding apparatus may be adjusted to accommodate the various lengths. Slots I40 and I42 in the frame I2 permit this adjustment. Rod 96 has also been made adjustable so as to change the effective distances between member I02 and the plunger I80 and its bell crank lever 88.

In the present embodiment the switches have been adjustably mounted upon the frame but instead thereof adjustably mounted lugs carried by the chain 36 engaging the several switches may be used whereby the adjustment of the lugs alters the machine to accommodate difierent forms without altering the position of the switch and thereby accomplish the same result.

Instead of electromagnetic clutches and electric switches used in reversing the'motor and controlling the manifolding apparatus, this could be accomplished by mechanical movements.

The material feeding and carbon shifting mechanism as herein described is especially useful when a large number of manifolded forms are used and particularly for feeding fan fold forms, where the ordinary withdrawal or retraction of the carbon sheets cannot be satisfactorily practiced without reversal of the forms.

When such large number of copies or fan-fold forms is employed, the frictional tenacity of the carbon sheets interleaved therebetween is so great that their retraction becomes diflicult. It then becomes necessary to feed the forms reversely through the writing machine until the carbon sheets pass from the curvilinear portions of the forms about the platen roll into the fiat or straight portions thereabove wherein the pressure is relieved and the frictional contact minimized.

The pin wheel platen aligns the forms and positively advances them in accurate registry past the writing position. The second pin wheel feed upper end of the structure serves to accurately feed the forms reversely during the retractive operation. If the platen roll alone is relied upon for feeding the record material in both directions, the material is likely to buckle upon the frame during reversal. However, the second pin wheel feeding device insures that-the material will travel smoothly during its retrograde movement.

For commercial purposes it is quite important that this operation is performed quickly in order that the manifolding operation may be economically and satisfactorily carried on. The present application of an actuating motor for automatically adjusting the record material and transfer material enables rapid operation not only for electrically operated writing machines but formanual typewriters as well.

As the operator completes the writing operation she touches the motor setting button or plunger I80, whereupon the motor automatically turns the platen backwardly, drivingthe second pin wheel feed device 20 in unison to keep the material in properly arranged relation, until a predetermined length of forms is retracted sufficiently to withdrawthe carbon sheets from about the platen and so relieve the pressure thereon.

At such point a control device I34 is engaged by the moving parts to effect disengagement of the clutches 40-48 which arrests the travel of the record material, but the chain 36 continues to travel, carrying with it the transfer material carrier 2|, thereby retracting the transfer material relative to the record strips into the succeeding manifolding position. As the transfer material carrier approaches the limit of its travel it engages the next of the sequential control devices, which not only reverses the direction ofis arrested and the strip feeding and carbon shifting mechanism is released preparatory to manual actuation during the writing operation.

Obviously the apparatus illustrated can be used in other manipulations of the material, as for example when the record material and transfer material have'been retracted in unison through the first movement, instead of disengaging the platen roll and feeding roll 20 from the actuating mechanism, the carbon material may be held in such retracted position and the strip feeding mechanism reversed to advance. the record material the distance of one form independently of the transfer material, and then by continued advance feeding actuation by the motor the record and transfer material may be furtheradvanced into writing position. In such manipulation, the relative movement of the materials into the suc ceeding manifolding relation is effected by shifting the record material independently of the transfer material instead of vice versa.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but

which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of partswithout departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form'of several modes of putting the in-- vention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims. v I

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A motorized transfer material shifting device for use with a writing machine having a carriage in which is journaled a pin wheel platen for use with continuous length strips of marginally punchedrecord material having short sheets of a in spaced relation with respect to said platen and rotating in synchronism therewith, a carrier for supporting the interleaved transfer material mounted for to and fro movement intermediate the platen and the roller, a driving mechanism releasably interconnected to said platen, said roller and said carrier for retracting the transfer material and the record material in unison, means responding to the position of the carrier for releasing the platen and the roller from said driving mechanism without releasing said carrier therefrom whereby the carrier and transfer material are retracted independently of the record material one form length, means responding to the position of said carrier for reversing said driving mechanism and for connecting said platen and said roller to the driving mechanism whereby the record material and transfer material are advanced in unison, and meansresponding to the position of the carrier for releasing said driving ing mechanism from the platen and the roller when the new form has been advanced into writing position and the used form ejected therefrom.

2. A motorized transfer material shifting device for use with a writing machine having a carriage in which is journaled a pin wheel platen for use with continuous length strips of marginally punched record material utilizing short sheets of interleaved transfer material, the combination including a frame mounted upon said carriage, a guide over which the record material advances arranged in spaced relation with respect to said mechanism therefrom and for releasing thedrivplaten, a transfer material carrier disposed inter mediate the platen and,the guide for supporting the interleaved sheets of transfer material, \a driving mechanism releasably interconnecting said platen to said carrier for retracting the transfer material and the record material in unison, means responding to the retractive move- ,ment of the carrier for releasing the platen from said driving mechanism without releasing said carrier therefrom whereby the carrier and the transfer material are retracted independently of the record material one form length, and means responding to the further retractive movement of said carrier for reversing said driving mechanism and for connecting said-platen thereto whereby the record material and transfer material are advanced in unison into-writing position and the used form ejected therefrom. 1

"3. A motorized transfer material shifting device for use with a writing machine having a carriage in which is journaled a pin wheel platen for use with continuous length strips of marginally punched record material utilizing short sheets of interleaved transfer material, the comretracting the transfer material and the record material in unison, means responding to the movement of the carrier for releasing the platen from the driving mechanism without releasing said carrier therefrom whereby the carrier and transfer material are retracted independently of the record material one form length, means in the path of the carrier for reversing said driving mechanism and for interconnecting said platen thereto whereby the record material and transfer material are advanced in unison and means for releasing said driving mechanism from the platen and the carrier when the new form has been advanced into writing position and the used form ejected.

4. A motorized transfer material shifting device for use with a writing machine having a carriage in which is journaled a pin wheel platen for use with continuous lengthstrips of marginally punched record material utilizing short sheets of interleaved transfer material, the combination including a frame mounted for movement in unison with the carriage, a roller mounted upon said frame in spaced relation with respect to said platen and rotating in synchronism therewith, a traveling carrier mounted intermediate said platen and said roller for supporting said interleaved transfer material, a driving mechanism releasably interconnected to said platen, said roller and said carrier for retracting the transfer material and the record material in unison, and means responding to the position of the carrier for releasing the platen, and the roller from said driving mechanism without releasing said carrier therefrom, whereby the carrier and the transfer material are retracted independently of the record material one form length.

5. A motorized transfer material shifting device for use with a writing machine having a carriage in which is journaled a pin wheel platen member for use with continuous length strips of marginally punched record material having interleaved therebetween short sheets of transfer material, the combination including a frame mounted for unison operation with said carriage, a pin wheel roller member mounted in said frame in spaced relation with respect to said platen member and rotating in synchronism therewith, a traveling carrier member for supporting the interleaved transfer material, mounted for to and fro movement intermediate the platen member and the roller member, a driving mechanism releasably interconnected with said members for retracting the transfer material and the record material in unison, means responding to the movement of one of said members for releasing the platen member and the roller member from said driving mechanism without releasing said carrer member therefrom, whereby the carrier member and transfer material are retracted independently of the record material, and means for interrupting the retractive movement of said carrier member when the transfer material has been retracted a selected distance. r

6. A motorized transfer material shifting device for use With a writing machine having a carriage in which is journaled a pin wheel platen member for use with continuous length strips of marginally punched record material having interleaved therebetween short'sheets of transfer material, the combination including a traveling frame member mounted for unison operation with said carriage, a guide mounted upon said frame in spaced relation with respect to said platen member, a transfer material supporting member mounted for to and fro movement intermediate said platen member and said guide, a driving mechanism releasably interconnected to said platen member and said transfer material supporting member for retracting the transfer material and the record material in unison, means actuated by one of said members for releasing the platen member from said driving mechanism without releasing said supporting member therefrom whereby said supporting member and the transfer material carried there- 1 by are retracted independently of the record material, means for arresting the retractive movement of said supporting member when the transfer material is interleaved intermediate the succeeding forms, and means for reversing said driving mechanism to advance the succeeding form and the interleaved sheets of transfer material into writing position and ejecting the used form therefrom.

7. A motorized transfer material shifting device for use with a writing machine having a carriage in which is journaled a pin wheel platen member for use with continuous length strips of marginally punched record material having interleaved therebetween short sheets of transfer material, the combination including a frame mounted in spaced relation with respect to said platen member, a roller mounted in said frame, a transfer material carrier member for supporting the interleaved transfer material mounted for to and fro movement in a path intermediate the connecting the platen member thereto for advancing the record material and the transfer material in unison into writing position.

8. A motorized transfer material shifting device for use with a writing machine having a carriage in which is journaled a pin wheel platen for use with continuous length strips of marginally punched record material having interleaved therebetween short sheets of transfer material, the combination including a frame mounted upon said carriage, a transfer material carrier for supporting the interleaved transfer material mounted for to and fro movement in said frame, a driving mechanism releasably interconnected to said platen and said carrier for retracting the transfer material and the record material in unison, means responding to the movement of the carrier for releasing the platen from the driving mechanism without releasing the carrier therefrom whereby the carrier and transfer material are retracted independently of the record material a certain distance, and means for reversing said driving mechanism and interconnecting said platen thereto when the interleaved sheets of transfer material are located intermediate the succeeding forms whereby the succeeding forms and the interleaved transfer material is advanced into writing position and the preceding form ejected therefrom.

9. A motorized transfer material shifting de- Vice for use with a writing machine having a carriage in which is journaled a pin wheel platen for use with continuous length strips of marginally punched record material having interleaved therebetween short sheets of transfer material, the combination including a frame mounted in spaced relation with said carriage, a carrier for supporting the interleaved transfer material mounted for to and fro movement upon said frame, a motorized driving mechanism releasably interconnected to said platen and said carrier for retracting the transfer material and the record material in unison, means for releasing the platen from said driving mechanism when thetransfer material clears the platen without releasing the carrier whereby the retractive movement of the carrier continues, means for arresting the retractive movement of the carrier when the transfer sheets are interleaved between the succeeding forms, said last mentioned means reversing said driving mchanism and interconnecting the platand automatic control devices for thereafter connecting and disconnecting the motor and driven mechanism for actuating the strip feeding means and transfer carrier through a prescribed cycle of operation.

13. In a writing machine, strip feeding means for advancing in unison superposed strips of record material and interposed portions of transfer material in alternating directions, a traveling transfer material carrier operable independently of the strip feeding means for retracting the transfer material independently of the strips into en thereto whereby the succeeding form of the* succeeding manifolding relation therewith, an

record material and transfer material are advanced into writing position, and means responding to the movement of the carrier for releasing the driving mechanism from said platen and from said carrier when the succeeding form is advanced into writing position.

10. A motorized transfer material shifting device for use with a writing machine having a traveling carriage in which is journaled a pin wheel platen for use with continuous length strips of marginally punched record material having interleaved therebetween short sheets of transfer material, the combination including a carrier mounted for to and fro movement with the carriage and for fore and aft movement with respect to the platen, said carrier supporting the interleaved transfer material and motorized driving mechanism releasably interconnected to said platen and said carrier for retracting the transfer material and record material in unison until the for reversing said driving mechanism and for interconnecting said platen thereto when the inter- I leaved sheets of transfer material are located between the succeeding forms for advancing the dependently of the strip feeding means for retracting the transfer material into a succeeding manifolding position relaTive to the record strips, a driving motor for actuating the strip feeding means and transfer material carrier in alternate directions in unison, and also for actuating one independentlyof the other, manual means for starting the motor, and motor-controlled means for connecting and disconnecting the motor and driven mechanism and alternating the direction of travel of the latter.

12. In a writing machine, strip feeding means for advancing in unison superposed strips of record material and interposed portions of transfer material in alternating directions, a travelingtransfer material carrier operable independently of the strip feeding means for retracting the transfer material independently of the strips into a succeeding manifolding relation therewith, a driving motor, engageable and disengageable driving connections between the motor and the strip feeding means and transfer material carrier, manual means for setting the motor in operation,

elegtric motor, an energizing circuit therefor, a switch therein for starting the motor, electrically controlled devices for connecting and disconnecting the electric motor with the strip feeding means and transfer material carrier for operation thereof in a prescribed cycle, electrical switches operated by the movement of the driven mechanisms for actuating said control devices, said starting switch being automatically opened at the completion of a prescribed cycle of operation.-

14. In a writing machine, strip feeding means I for advancing in unison superposed strips of rec- 0rd material and interposed portions of transfer material in alternating directions, a traveling transfer material carrier operable independently of the strip feeding means for retracting the transfer material independently of the strips into a succeeding manifolding relation therewith, a

driving motor, independently operable clutches for operatively connecting and disconnecting the motor with the strip feeding means and with the transfer material carrier, and clutch shifting means controlled by the movement of the driven mechanism for actuating the strip feeding means and transfer carrier through a prescribed cycle of operation, and means controlled by the operation of the driven mechanism for arresting the motorupon completion of the cycle of operation.

15. In a writing machine employing superposedcontinuous record strips and interleaved transfer sheets shiftable relative to each other into successive manifolding positions and movable in unison past a writing position in each of said manifolding positions, strip feeding devices adapted to move the record strips and transfer material in unison past a writing position, a traveling transfer material carrier, a driving motor, disengageable driving connections between the driving motor and-the strip feeding devices and transfer material carrier respectively, an electric control circuit for the motor including a manually operable circuit closer, motor reversing means, and

means for automatically engaging and disengaging the motor and the strip feeding devices and transfer material carrier and reversing the motor whereby the record and transfer material may be initially retracted in unison and thereafter the transfer material may be further retracted independently of the record material and upon automatic reversal of the motor the transfer and record material may be advanced in unison through predetermined paths of travel.

16. In a writing machine wherein superposed continuous record strips and interleaved transfer sheets are advanced in unison past a writing position and the transfer material shifted into new manifolding relation with the strips after each' feeding devices and transfer'material for actu-- ating the strip feeding devices and transfer mateversing the direction of travel of the driven mechanisms and for automatically engaging and disengaging the driving connections at predetermined stages of operation.

17. In a writing machine wherein superposed continuous record strips and interleaved portions of transfer material are progressively advanced in unison by manual manipulation past a writing position to receive thereon a Written inscription, of strip feeding means and a transfer material carrier operable in unison and one independently of the other, a driving motor, means for manually setting the motor in operation, and means controlled by the motor operation for actuating the driven mechanism to automatically retract the record strips and transfer material in unison, and

thereafter further retract the transfer material independently of the record strips into a succeeding manifolding relation therewith and complete the cycle by advancing the record strips and transfer material a predetermined distance in unison, and means for automatically arresting the travel of the respective materials at the end of the cycle.

18. In a writing mach ne, the combination with record strip feeding and carbon shifting means of an actuating motor therefor,means for manually setting the motor in operation, and control means successively engaged by parts moving under the influence of the motor for automatically effecting the retraction, advancement and relative adjustment of the record and transfer material in predetermined sequence.

19. The combination with a writing mach ne having record strip feeding and carbon shifting mechanism, of an actuating motor therefor and a series of control devices automatically operated in sequence by moving parts under the influence of the motor for operating the record strip and carbon shifting means in unison with each otherand one independently of the other through a predetermined cycle of operation and for arresting the actuation of such mechanism upon completion of the cycle of operation.

20. The combination with a writing machine having record strip feeding and carbon shifting mechanism, of an actuating motor therefor, means for connecting and disconnecting the motor therewith, and a series of successively operable control elements for effecting different operative connections of the motor and said mechanism to effect unisormretra ction, advancement and relative adjustment of the record and transfer material in predetermined sequence and for releasing the said mechanism from influence of the motor at the end of the cycle of operation.

21. The combination with a writing mach ne, of a pair of relatively spaced feeding devices having positive engagement with continuous strips of record material. cyclicly operated motor driven actuating means for driving said feeding devices in unison to cause said strips to travel first in one direction and then in the other, and means for arresting the operation of the driving means in response to the completion of a cycle.

22. The combination with a writing machine, of a pin type platen having engagement with marginally punched record material for positively advancing the record material past writing position, and a second pin tyne feeding dev ce located in spaced relation with the platen and engaged by the record materialin its advance toward the platen, motor actuated means for driving said second pin type feeding device in a reverse direction for positively retracting the record material, and means responsive to the movement of the driven mechanism for arresting the .driving means when the record material has been advanced to a predetermined position.

23. The combination with a writing'machine utilizing continuous strips of record material of two relatively spaced strip feeding devices having feeding engagement with the strips of record material, motor actuated driving means for actuating said spaced feeding devices alternately in opposite directions to feed said record strips first in one direction and then in the other, and means responsive to the operation of the driven mechanism for arresting the driving means when the record material advances to a predetermined position.

24. The combination with a Writing machine utilizing continuous strips of Writing material with sheets of transfer material interleaved therebetween for manifolding purposes, of two relatively spaced strip feeding devices having feeding engagement with the strips of record material and a transfer sheet carrier disposed between the spaced feeding devices, and motoractuated driving means for actuating the feeding devices and the travelling transfer material carrier alternately in opposite directions, and the travelling transfer material carrier relatively to the record material strips. to shift the transfer material sheets from manifolding relation with one portion of the record strips into manifolding relation with another portion thereof.

25. The combination with a writing machine utilizing continuous strips of writing material with sheets of transfer material interleaved therebetween for manifolding purposes. of two relatively spaced strip feeding devices having feeding engagement with the strips of record material and a transfer sheet carrier disposed between the spaced feed ng devices, motor actuated driving means for actuating the feeding devices alternately in opposite directions to feed the record strips first in one direction and then in the other. operator operated control means f r effecting initial operation of the motor actuated driving means, and automatic control means for material carrier relatively to the record material strips, to feed the record material strips and the transfer sheets first in one d rection and then in the other and shift the transfer material sheets from one portion of the record material strips into manifolding relation with another portion thereof, and operator operated control means for effecting operation of the motor actuated driving means.

27. The combination with a writing machine utilizing continuous strips of writing material with sheets of transfer material interleaved therebetween for manifolding purposes, of two relatively spaced feeding devices having feedirg engagement with the strips of record material and a transfer sheet carrier disposed between the spaced feeding devices, motor actuated driving means for actuating the feeding devices and the traveling transfer material carrier alternately in opposite directions, and the traveling transfer material carrier relatively to the record material strips, to feed the record material strips and the transfer sheets first in one direction and then in the other and shift the transfer material sheets from one portion of the record material strips into manifolding relation with another portion thereof, and operator operated control means for effecting initial operation of the motor actuated driving means, and automatic control means for effecting subsequent operation of the motor-actuated driving means in producing a complete cycle of operation of the feeding devices and transfer material carmar.

28. In a manifolding apparatus wherein sheets of transfer material interleaved between continuous strips of record'materlal are shifted out of registry with a portion of the strips into manifolding relation with a succeeding portion thereof, spaced feeding means for the strips, a travelling transfer sheet carrier disposed between the spaced feeding means, motor means for actuating the spaced feeding means and the travelling transfer sheet carrier, and control means for effecting movement of the strip feeding means and travelling transfer sheet carrier in alternate directions, and movement of the continuous record material strips and transfer sheet carrier relativelyto each other.

29. In a manifolding apparatus wherein sheets of transfer material interleaved between continuous strips of record material are shifted out of registry with a portion of the strips into manlfolding relation with a succeeding portion thereof, spaced feeding means for the strips, a transfer sheet carrier intermediate the spaced feeding means, motor means for actuating the spaced feeding means, and control means for effecting feeding movement of the spaced feeding means in alternate directions, said control means including operator operated means for effecting initial movement of the feeding means by the motor means, and automatic means for controlling movement of the feeding means by the motor means thereafter.

30. In a manifolding apparatus wherein sheets of transfer material interleaved between continuous strips of series connected forms are 'intermittently shifted out of registry with one set of forms into manifolding relation with a succeeding set of forms, a travelling carrier for the transfer sheets, feeding means for advancing the strips of series connected forms past a manifolding position, an actuating motor and means for operatively connecting the motor alternately with the travelling transfer sheet carrier and with the strip feeding means.

31. In a manifolding apparatus wherein sheets of transfer material interleaved between continuous strips of series connected forms are intermittently shifted out of registry with one set of forms into manifolding relation with a succeeding set of forms, a travelling carrier for the transfer sheets, feeding means for advancing the strips of series connected forms past a manifolding position, an actuating motor and means for intermittently operatively connecting the motor with the transfer material carrier to retract the carrier and transfer sheets relative to the strips of series connected forms from manifolding relation with one set of forms into such relation with a succeeding set of forms.

32. The combination with a writing machine utilizing continuous strips of writing material with sheets of transfer material interleaved therebetween for manifolding purposes, of spaced feeding-devices having feeding engagement with the strips of record material, a travelling transfer material carrier, and motor actuated driving means for the transfer material carrier for moving the carrier and transfer sheets relatively to the strips of record material.

33. The combination with a writing machine utilizing continuous strips of writing material with sheets of transfer material interleaved therebetween for manifolding purposes, of spaced feeding devices having feeding engagement with the strips of record material and movable to feed the strips in alternate directions to feed the record strips first in one direction and then in the other, a travelling transfer material carrier, and motor actuated driving means for the transfer material carrier for moving the carrier and transfer sheets relatively to the strips of record material.

34. The combination with a writing machine utilizing continuous strips of writing material with sheets of transfer material interleaved therebetween for manifolding purposes, of spaced feeding devices having feeding engagement with the strips of record material, a travelling transfer material carrler, and motor actuated driving means for moving the transfer material carrier and the transfer sheets both with and relatively to the record material strips.

35. The'combination with a writing machine utilizing continuous strips of writing material with sheets of transfer material interleaved therebetween for manifolding purposes, of spaced feeding devices having feeding engagement with the strips of record material and movable in alternate directions to feed the record strips first in one direction and then in the other, a travelling transfer material carrier, and motor actuated driving means for moving the transfer material carrier and the transfer sheets both with and relatively to the record material strips.

JOHN Q. SHERMAN. smear w. METZNER. ARDATH A. GOPPERTON. 

